Patent classifications
H01R13/7175
Network cable connector with switch control
Disclosed are network cable connectors with components such as switches, displays, and printed circuit with controllers. The disclosed network cable connector may be connected to a power over Ethernet (POE) power sourcing equipment (PSE). The printed circuit of the cable connector may request power for the display from the PSE. The switch of the cable connector may be operated such that at least one component of the printed circuit is disconnected from the PSE when an external powered device (PD) is connected to the cable connector. Disconnecting components of the printed circuit from the PSE may reduce the interference to the power negotiation between the PSE and external PD.
Electronic device and feedback providing method
To intuitively identify the state of an electronic device. There is provided an electronic device that implements a predetermined function, the electronic device including: an operation detection unit configured to detect a physical operation on the electronic device; a transmitter configured to transmit operation information indicating the operation to an external device; a receiver configured to receive feedback information indicating at least a type of feedback representing a state relating to the function, the feedback information being transmitted by the external device in response to the operation information; and a feedback unit configured to provide the feedback in accordance with the feedback information.
Illuminated charging connector or device and electronic device or system operable based on packaging status
An illuminable electronic connector for facilitating connection with an electronic device has an illumination circuit with at least one illumination source, and an on-board power source for supplying power to the illumination source in at least some modes of operation. The connector may be configured to adjust brightness of the illumination source based on ambient light conditions using an on-board light sensor. A touch sensing input may also be provided to operate the illumination source. The connector may be further operable to enter a sleep mode when it enters a shipping phase of a supply chain and then to automatically activate the illumination source when it is unpackaged at the end of the shipping phase. An electronic device including an electronic visual interface, such as a mobile phone, may be also operated in a similar manner based on the phase of the device within a supply chain.
ACTIVE COVER PLATES
A variety of active cover plate configurations with prongs configured to contact side screw terminals of electrical receptacles are described. In one illustrative embodiment, an active cover plate includes a multi-gang face plate configured to be installed over a multi-gang light switch installation, the multi-gang faceplate including at least two apertures sized to accept a manually manipulatable element of switches in the multi-gang light switch installation. Prongs extend rearward from the multi-gang faceplate around at least one of the apertures.
CABLE DETECTION USING LIGHT SENSOR
A connector detection system includes a connector interface including a connector port having an interior volume configured receive a connector of a cable; and an optical sensor. The optical sensor includes a transmitter configured to transmit a light beam across the interior volume; a receiver configured to monitor for a reflected light beam corresponding to the transmitted light beam; and processing circuitry configured to determine whether the connector is inserted into the interior volume based on a monitoring for the reflected light beam.
Tamper-resistant nightlight
A tamper resistant nightlight for placement in an electrical receptacle, the nightlight includes a body that has a base with an LED circuit and plug blades extending from the body. A housing includes a locking element configured to restrict a child from removing the nightlight from the electrical receptacle through a flange that extends away from the body to be positioned behind a rear surface of an electrical wall plate associated with the electrical receptacle to prevent the tamper resistant nightlight from being removed from the electrical receptacle while the electrical wall plate is coupled to the electrical receptacle.
Electric power device with integrated safety measure
In a particular implementation, an electric power device includes a body, a receptacle configured to receive a plug, and a source connector configured to be coupled to a power source. The electric power device further includes a casing coupled to the body and movable with respect to the body between a first position in which the casing defines an enclosed chamber and access to the receptacle is inhibited and a second position in which the casing is configurable to enable access to the receptacle for receipt of the plug. A transition from the first position to the second position is configured to cause the receptacle to be electrically decoupled from the source connector when the casing is at the second position, and a transition from the second position to the first position is configured to cause the receptacle to be electrically coupled to the source connector when the casing is at the first position.
Premises power usage monitoring system
A control system (300) allows recognized standard premise electrical outlets, for example NEMA, CEE and BS, among others to be remotely monitored and/or controlled, for example, to intelligently execute blackouts or brownouts or to otherwise remotely control electrical devices. The system (300) includes a number of smart receptacles (302) that communicate with a local controller (304), e.g., via power lines using the TCP/IP protocol. The local controller (304), in turn, communicates with a remote controller (308) via the internet.
CABLE CAP WITH POWER INDICATOR
A cable cap for a heating cable, and a heating cable assembly including a heating cable and a cable cap, in which the cable cap includes a power indicator that illuminates when sufficient power is supplied to the distal end of the heating cable. The indicator gives an installer or a user an indication that the heating cable is functioning properly the entire length of the heating cable. The cable cap may further include a connection feature, such as an aperture, that provides a connection point for a cable pulling device such as a fish tape.
COMPACT TEST POINT DEVICE
In order to provide an environmentally secured voltage testing interface, an electrical enclosure box comprising a front panel is herein-described, into which is mounted a voltage indicator comprising a plurality of LED indicators that indicate a status of one or more circuits coupled thereto and monitored thereby. A compact test point device is also mounted through the front panel and comprises an interface comprising a plurality of external measurement sockets configured to receive one or more probes for manual measurement of voltages, wherein each external measurement socket is coupled to a voltage divider that is further coupled to each of a plurality of respective wires coupled to respective LED indicators.